Adjustable chute spring for typesetting machines



Feb. 5, 1924 R. SHIELDS ADJUSTABLE CHUTE SPRING FOR TYPESETTING MACHINES Filed March 4. 1922 I ENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 5, 1924.

UNITED STATES ROBERT SHIELDS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

ADJUSTABLE CHU'IE SPRING FOR TYPESETTING MACHINES.

Application filed March 4, 1922. Serial No. 541,074.. I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT SHIELDS, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of 500 Coney Island Avenue, borough of Brooklyn, county of Kings, city and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Adjustable Chute Spring for Typesetting Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to typesetting machines and has particular reference to a means for mounting the chute spring thereon, the same being in the nature of an improvement over a previous patent granted to me January 10, 1922, and bearing United States Letters Patent No. 1,403,450.

In my prior patent a means was disclosed for mounting the chut spring on the assembler entrance plate to admit of vertical adjustments of the same whereby matrices of various sizes could be accommodated between the assembler buffers and thechute spring for the purpose of minimizing clogging and transposition in the line; and to permit of lifting or raising of the chute spring to an out-of-the-way position for removing matrices which had become clogged at this point. It has been found, however, that in setting up mixed lines that upon raising the chute spring to compensate forthe thicker matrices that a following thin one may jump ahead, clog or fall to the floor prior to the downward movement of the chute spring.

To overcome the above disadvantages and to afford means for preventing the same, it is therefore the object of the present improvement to provide in combination with a master chute spring mounted for vertical adjustments, an auxiliary chute spring having means of connection therewith and manipulating means therefor to simultaneously efl'ect relative movements between the master and auxiliary springs in opposite directions whereby when the master spring is moved upwardly to compensate for the thicker matrices, the auxiliary spring will be simultaneously moved downwardly to coact with the thin matrices.

The invention further aims to provide a device of the character described which is comparatively simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and which may be quickly and easily associated with all standard forms of typesetting machines now in general use without materially altering the same.

With the above recited and other objects in view, the invention resides in a novel con-. struction, combination. and arrangement of parts set forth in the following specification, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a typesetting machine with the adjustable chute spring mounting applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a. vertical end view of the devlce.

Figure 3 is a detail view of the rack and gear.

Figure 4t is a detail of the housing cover for the rack and gear.

Figure 5'is a detail cover plates.

Figure 6 is a detail view of the chute spring attached to rack.

Referring to drawings by characters of reference 41 designates the assembler enview of the frictional trance plate; 42 the assembler entrance plate,

stationary guideg43 the space bandchute; 14: is the assembling elevator; 15 the matrix delivery belt which is trained over the assembler belt pulley 16 and 10 the assembly buffers. The chute spring 17 is pivotally mounted as at 18 on the lower extremity of one of the rack arms 26 and constrained by the stop-screw 19 and prevented from lateral motion by the pin 89. In the usual construction the rack arm to the base entrance plate 22 by means of screws or other fastening elements. In my present embodiment, the two arms 26 are provided with rack-teeth which mesh with inion 24, all of which are mounted on base-' plate 22. The pinion 24 is provided with a knurled handle 47 and pointer 4:8. Blocks 25, integral with base-plate 22, serve as attachment pieces for housing plate (Fig. t) which in turn is held in place by coverplates by means of screws through holes 34, and cover-plate dowels 35 through holes 36. The auxiliary spring 30, constructed of thin spring-steel, is attached to the other rack arm 26 by means of an angle-piece 28.

In the use and operation of the device the chute spring 17 with rack arm 26 is moved in a vertical direction by means of the handle 47 rotating the pinion 2a to vary the space between the chute spring 17 and the assembler buffers 10 for the accommodation of matrices of various thicknesses. The frictional engagement of the rack arm 26 is permanently secured- 26 with cover plate (Fig. 5) serving to hold the same in any position. At the same time that the chute spring is moved up to accommodate thicker matrices, the auxiliary spring 30 due to the engagement of its rack with the pinion 24, moves down to accommodate thinner matrices. Should the matrices clog the machine at this point, chute spring 17, may be shifted upward to the limit of its movement, thus effecting a sufficient separation from the bufi'ers 40 to remedy the trouble. If desired graduations 38 with suitable indicia may be inscribed on the base-plate for the purpose of visually indicating to the eye the adjustment of the chute spring for various thicknesses of matrices. The raduations 87 on frictional cover-plate ig. 5) will also serve by means of a pointer 48 for similar purpose.

While there has been illustrated and described a single and preferred embodiment of the invention, no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details, as it is to be understood that variations and modifications which properly fall within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to when found expedient.

I claim 1. In a typesetting machine, the combination with a master chute spring mounted for vertical adjustments and means for effecting vertical adjustments thereof, of an auxiliary chute spring, and means for effecting simultaneous relative movement of the auxiliary chute spring in an opposite direction upon movement of the master chute spring.

2. In a typesetting machine, a master chute spring and an auxiliary chute spring mounted for vertical adjustments, a con nect-ion therebetween for simultaneously efi'ecting relative movements of the same in opposite directions, and manipulating means therefor whereby upon upward movement of the master spring to compensate for the passage of thicker matrices, the auxiliary spring will be moved downwardly to coact with the thinner matrices.

3. In a typesetting machine two vertically adjustable slidable means to one of which a chute spring is connected whereby upon movement of said means, the space between the free end of the chute spring and assembler buffer may be varied and an auxiliary spring attached to the lower extremity of the other slidable means, said means comprising an arm mounted for vertical sliding movements on opposite sides, of a pinion both arms provided with gearing to produce an upward and downward motion by rotation of a convenient pinion handle, said means frictionally coacting with the racks and pinion in combination with housing cover for retaining the arms in their shifted positions.

4:. In a typesetting machine two vertically adjustable slidable means to one of which a chute spring is connected whereby upon -movement of said means, the space between the free end of the chute spring and assembler bufi'er may be varied and an auxiliary spring attached to the lower extremity of the other slidable means, said means comprising an arm mounted for vertical sliding movements on opposite sides, of a pinion both arms provided with gearing to produce an upward and downward motion by rotation of a convenient pinion handle, said means frictionally coacting with the racks and inion in combination with housing cover t hr retaining the arms in their shifted positions, in combination with means for indicating the distance of the upward and downward motions.

ROBERT SHIELDS. 

